Lauren Graham, who gained immense popularity in the early 2000s for her role as Lorelai Gilmore in “Gilmore Girls,” had a few milestones she aspired to achieve to confirm her success, such as appearances on “Celebrity Jeopardy!” and “Late Night With David Letterman.”
However, being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was never something she envisioned, something she admits had not even made it onto her manifestation boards.
“I’ve had the opportunity to do so many things at this point, and this wasn’t even on my radar,” she tells Variety. “I had my sights on achievements that felt tangible, but this was one I hadn’t even dare to dream about.”
Graham’s star ceremony is scheduled for October 3. While details are still in the works (she humorously mentions she’ll have to figure out how to pose in an awkward mermaid-like position), she is certain she would like “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and co-stars Kelly Bishop and Alexis Bledel to speak at the event, alongside numerous cast members from “Parenthood” and her family.
“It’s such a touching moment for me,” she expresses, “And of course, true to Hollywood, the first question I got was, ‘Where will it be?’ I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, does it matter? If it’s in front of a CVS, does that diminish its value?’”
Graham is pleased to share that her star is set in a location more glamorous than outside a drug store. It will be positioned at the crossroads of Hollywood and Vine, conveniently located near the historic Pantages Theatre.
“I just wanted to ensure that fans, particularly young ones, have a pleasant and safe spot to visit the star,” she remarks.
Two decades after the original airing of “Gilmore Girls,” her performance continues to resonate, and the teenage girls who grew up watching the show now find themselves in their late twenties. Additionally, new audiences have discovered the series through its availability on Netflix.
The comedy-drama, crafted by Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, chronicles the lives of Lorelai and her studious daughter Rory (Bledel) in the quirky town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut. After becoming pregnant with Rory at 16, the fiercely independent Lorelai forges her own path in life, often distancing herself from her affluent parents (Bishop and Ed Herrmann), but finds herself reaching out to them for financial support to cover Rory’s education costs.
At the recent Emmys, where she had a joyful reunion with Bledel on stage celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary, a mother encouraged her shy daughter to meet Graham, expressing, “We watch this together — she adores the show; it means so much to her. She’s a bookworm and looks up to these characters.”
“That’s an experience that I find extremely fulfilling,” Graham reflects.
Recalling the first time she encountered the “Gilmore Girls” script, Graham felt an instant connection with Lorelai. “The feeling was immediate, like, ‘I know you,’” she reminisces. “Even without meeting the writer, it spoke to me right from the start.”
The show also bravely redefined the traditional mother-daughter dynamic, showcasing an unconventional relationship between the two leads. “The essence of ‘Gilmore Girls’ was this unorthodox connection,” Graham explains. “They interacted almost as equals, which sometimes leads to conflict, but it’s a genuine representation of reality.”
By its conclusion in 2007, the series had outlasted a merger between the WB and UPN, with its final season airing on the CW. The Palladinos stepped away after Season 6 due to contractual disagreements, leading to David Rosenthal taking over as showrunner and head writer.
“It didn’t feel like the same show, so saying goodbye was somewhat easier,” Graham shares. “Not every ending ties itself up perfectly.”
She eventually revisited the role of Lorelai in “A Day in the Life,” a four-part miniseries from the Palladinos. This revival was among the first of its kind amid the streaming boom, earning a mix of responses from critics, particularly regarding its controversial ending: “Mom?” “Yeah?” “I’m pregnant.”
Graham prefers to steer clear of reviews concerning her performances, but she believes “both good and bad news circulates back to you” and understands that opinions on the final scene were mixed. “But I don’t quite grasp the reasoning for the backlash,” she admits. “I was in pure bliss during filming. Each day felt like a dream, and I thought the work and episodes were genuinely beautiful.”
She often converses about critical discourse with her close friend Jenny Han, known for creating “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” “Jenny is involved in assessing audience reactions and engages in conversations with fans,” Graham mentions. “I tell her, ‘If viewers are upset, it’s rooted in their love for the show — they’re invested in its outcome.’”
Before the revival, Graham took on another pivotal role as Sarah Braverman in NBC’s “Parenthood,” which aired from 2010 to 2015. In this series, Graham portrayed a 40-year-old single mother who, alongside her teenage daughters, returns to live with her parents following a failed marriage. Despite the similarities between Sarah and Lorelai, Graham is cautious not to draw direct parallels simply because they are both mothers.
“To me, there’s no singular ‘type of mom,’” she states. “Moms come in diverse forms and are as varied as any other character type.”
Earlier in the year, Graham took the lead in and executive produced Tubi’s original film “The Z-Suite,” portraying an advertising CEO. Looking ahead, she humorously adds that she’s creating her own take on “First Wives Club.” In the classic 1996 film, Goldie Hawn’s character famously remarks on the three stages of an actress’s career: “Babe,” “District Attorney,” and “Driving Miss Daisy” — a satirical commentary on the limited roles available to aging women in Hollywood.
As for Graham’s stages thus far, she jokes they include the “Sassy Best Friend” and the “Cool Mom.” “And whatever comes next… perhaps the ‘Cool Granny.’”
She is indeed poised to portray a grandmother for the first time in the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s “Reminders of Him,” set to debut in March. She’ll embody the role of Grace Landry, the family matriarch who keeps the family united after the tragic loss of her son.
On reflecting about her career, she states: “I take pride in being still present in this industry. I am grateful for the surprises that continue to come my way.” At this moment, though, it is about receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who knows, maybe “Celebrity Jeopardy!” will be next on her list.
Tipsheet:
WHAT: Lauren Graham to receive a star on the Walk of Fame
WHEN: October 3, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: 6284 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
WEB: walkoffame.com
